Kris Jenner, Bruce Jenner announce: We've separated

Kris and Bruce Jenner, shown here at the April 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, have confirmed that they separated about a year ago. They have been married 22 years.

Kris and Bruce Jenner, shown here at the April 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, have confirmed that they separated about a year ago. They have been married 22 years. (Dan Steinberg / Associated Press)

Nardine Saad

Kris Jenner and husband Bruce Jenner have reportedly separated and have kept the news quiet for almost a year.

The Kardashian momager, 57, and former Olympian, 63, issued a statement Tuesday to several publications announcing their decision to split after 22 years of marriage.

"But we will always have much love and respect for each other. Even though we are separated, we will always remain best friends and, as always, our family will remain our number one priority."

It was unclear if the pair would legally separate or divorce, but Kris Jenner reportedly has not contacted a divorce lawyer, TMZ reported, because the two don't want anything to interfere with their show. She also told Us Weekly that their marriage has secretly been over for a year.

"We ended a marriage, but that's not the end of our friendship. I will always love him, but we are no longer a couple in that way," she said. "We are happier this way."

Also in June, just before the Season 8 premiere of the family's reality show, Khloe Kardashian spoke about her mom and stepdad's decision to keep separate homes, with Kris maintaining the family home in Calabasas and Bruce getting a beach house in Malibu.

"Well, they're not having problems, but they still like to live apart, which is definitely different," Kardashian told Jay Leno. "In my house, there is a man room for Lamar. A room, not a different house. So I think they took my idea and ran with it, and they got another house. And Bruce stays there sometimes."

Bruce Jenner often squabbles with his family on their E! series; however, the show works the teasing and occasional alienation into its story and has previously addressed the separate real estate situation, with Bruce often filming at the Malibu home. Kris also did not appear to share her hotel room when the family vacationed in Greece earlier this year.

Kris Jenner reportedly rented out the beach house for Bruce and their two young daughters to stay in while her home was being renovated to accommodate her daughter Kim, Kim's boyfriend Kanye West and their new baby, North.

Kris Jenner, the ex-wife of the late O.J. Simpson lawyer Robert Kardashian, serves as manager for her three famous daughters, Kourtney, Kim and Khloe. She and Bruce Jenner, the Olympic gold medalist, married in 1991 and have two daughters together, Kendall, 17, and Kylie Jenner, 16.

Bruce Jenner and first wife Chrystie Crownover (1972-1981) have a son, Burt, and daughter, Casey Jenner. After those two split, he married Linda Thompson (1982-1984), with whom he had two sons, Brandon and Sam (Brody), who have appeared on the E! reality show and attempted to build a bond with their father.